Boroujerdi stresses support for expansion of ties with Turkmenistan

Service : Politic

Tehran, May 20, (ICANA) – Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi reiterated the legislature's strong support for the further bolstering of ties and cooperation between Tehran and Ashgabat.

Monday, May 21, 2012 3:25:59 PM

"The Islamic Consultative Assembly seriously supports interactions between Tehran and Ashgabat and sees no restriction on the development of relations with Turkmenistan," Boroujerdi said.

The lawmaker is in Turkmenistan at the head of a parliamentary delegation and at the invitation of the country's Parliament Speaker Aqja Nourbardiva.

He further expressed the hope that the two countries' officials would take wider strides in promoting Tehran-Ashgabat all-out ties.

Boroujerdi further noted the two countries' age-old and deeply rooted cultural and historical ties and their lengthy borders, and said, "Iran and the friendly and neighboring country of Turkmenistan today have $5 billion worth of trade exchanges and cooperation, but we in the Islamic Consultative Assembly seriously support the further boosting of economic and trade interactions between the two nations, given the fact that the two states' potential and capacities are way beyond this level."

He reminded that Tehran and Ashgabat have long shared common views and identical stances on regional developments, and said the two nations should further cooperate with each other in strengthening peace, stability and security in the region.

Boroujerdi and his entourage visited Turkmenistan to take part in an international conference themed "20 Years of Experience in Lawmaking".

Addressing the conference on Saturday, Boroujerdi pointed to the Iranian Supreme Leader's emphasis on the further expansion of the relations between two neighboring countries, and stated, "As regards the expansion and development of the relations with the brotherly state of Turkmenistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the prospects of these ties are promising."

"The current level of the two countries' ties is expected to further expand and develop and reach a deserving level, given the existing capacities," Boroujerdi stated, adding that Iran attaches great importance to its strategic ties with Turkmenistan due to the country's strategic position in the Central Asia.

He further expressed the Iranian parliament's willingness to establish all-out ties with the Turkmen legislature, including setting up joint parliamentary friendship groups.

Boroujerdi and his accompanying delegation also held separate meetings with Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredev and Parliament Speaker Nourbardiva on Saturday.

During the meetings, the two sides discussed different bilateral issues as well as the latest regional and international developments.

"The talks with the Turkmen foreign minister more focused on bilateral relations and mutual cooperation between Iran and Turkmenistan and expanding the groundwork for such cooperation," Boroujerdi said after his meeting with Meredov.

"Issues related to the Caspian Sea and the two countries' cooperation in this regard" were also discussed during the meeting, he said.

Also, Boroujerdi and his entourage held a separate meeting with Turkmenistan's parliament speaker, where they underlined Iran's enthusiasm for setting up an Iran-Turkmenistan Parliamentary Friendship Group once the new parliament starts work later this year.